Game-counter.



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS \VILLIAMS COCHRANE, OF ROCHESTER, NELV YORK.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681 ,528, dated August27, 1901.

Application filed December 17, 1900. Serial No. 40,192. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WrLLIAMs COOHRANE, a resident of Rochester,in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Game-Counters; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same.

The invention relates to game-counters,and has for its object to providea device for indicating various facts pertaining tothe beginning andprogress of different games.

The invention consists in the construct-ion herein described and pointedout.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is arear elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section show ing thearrangement of an index-finger. Fig. 4 is a vertical centrallongitudinal section passing through an indicator of trumps.

Numeral 1 denotes a base, and 2 a standard, the front of which may beinclosed by glass, if desired. On the front face of the standard and oneach side of said face are arranged two columns of numbers, shown in thepresent instance as including numbers 1 to 26 in one column of each pairand 27 to 52 in the others, the arrangement or order of the separatecolumns in each pair being opposite, as shown, to provide that the samepointer 3 may be used with both adjacent columns, first, by moving itdown in connection with one column and then reversing it and moving itup to indicate on the other column. This pointer 3 is adj ustably andreversibly held in a slot 4:, situated between two columns of numbers,bya spring 5, movable in away 6, adjacent the slot. The spring isconnected to the axis 6 of the pointer, and said axis, which supportsand carries the pointer fixed thereto, is free to be turned in itsbearing in the spring, the latter being held from rotation by the sidewall or walls of the Way in which it moves up and down the standard.With this construction the pointer can be used with the inner column ofnumbers, as arranged in the present instance, and moved down to its footto indicate 26 and then turned and moved upward to indicate highernumbers up to and including 52. If the number credited to either playeris to bereduced, the pointercan be suitably moved back to indicate thesubtraction in case such player has sufficient numbers to his credit.

The counter is designed for two players or two sets of players and has apair of columns of numbers for each. It also has dials 7 and 8, one foreach player, and dials 9 and 10, one for each player. The dials 7 and 8may be used to indicate the number of games won by each player and 9 and10 to indicate losses in any particular game. 11 denotes a dial forindicating any other fact, such as a bid in the game known as pedro.These several dials have suitable pointers, as shown.

12 denotes a device for indicating the trumps in card-playin g. Itcomprises a rotatable disk 18, covering representations of a club,heart, diamond, or spade placed on the standard. In practice the saidrepresentations will be appropriately colored. The rotatable disk has awindow 14 of such size and arrangement that the disk can be turned toexpose any one of the cireumferentially-arranged trump-indicators. Thedisk 13 and each pointer has a handle 15 suitable for its manipulation,and each has a spring 16 to produce the necessary friction, except thatthe pointer 3 has the spring 5, as before described.

The counter is used as follows in the game of pedro, for example: Theplayer keeping the score has the counter at his right, for convenience,and in full view of all.- The amount bid is indicated on the dial 11.When the trump is named, the characteristic of the suit is exposed bysuitably turning the disk 13. After a hand has been played the amountmade is indicated in one of the vertical columns appropriate to thewinner. WVhen the pointer 3 has been moved down to 26, it is turned halfaround and moved upward to indicate higher numbers. The pointer can beturned off by moving it into a vertical position. The amount to becharged to a player put in a hole can be indicated on the proper dial 9or 10, each being appropriated to a player or to playing partners. Ingames involving the use of higheounting numbers the dials 9 and 10 can,if desired, be used to denote hundreds. All the facts necessary to beknown to the players in ordinary games can be plainly indicated, and

thus the annoyance of inquiries by inattentive persons can be avoided. I

It may be noted that each dial for indicating the number of games issituated immediately above the columns for indicating the count in eachparticular game and that the columns and dial appropriate to each playerare separated by the other dials and the trump-indicator, the dial forthe bid and the trump-indicator being situated at the top. Thisarrangement is especially convenient and well adapted for instant andaccurate inspection, even by those not well versed in the game to beplayed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a game-counter, a standard having columns of numbers separated bya slot, a pointer movable up and down in the slot, said pointer beingreversible and held by a spring, and a Way formed in the standard toguide and hold the spring.

2. The game-counter having a series of ber of games Won, and a dial forindicating the amount bid in the game of pedro or for like purpose, saidlatter dials being situated above the columns for counting in aparticular game.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS WILLIAMS COGHRANE.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH GIBSON, JAMES A. COOHRANE.

